One of the youngest in St. Petersburg is Pioneer Square. It received its name in 1962. This year is significant for such an event as the opening in honor of the fortieth anniversary of the pioneer organization of the Theater for Young Spectators. It rises in its central part. The area faces Zagorodny Prospekt. To the left of it is Zvenigorodskaya street, and to the right is Podezdnoy lane. Behind the square is the former Nikolaevskaya street, now called Marata street.
Semenovsky parade ground
In the 18-19th centuries, in the area where Pionerskaya Square is located, three regiments were quartered: Semenovsky, Moscow and Jaegersky. After the barracks building, a free territory of 26 hectares was formed here, which was later used as a parade ground. The northern and eastern borders of this parade ground were modern Zagorodny Prospekt and Zvenigorodskaya Street, respectively. To datetwo barracks buildings were preserved, located on Ruzovskaya Street under Nos. 10 and 12. After some time, the square of the parade ground decreased significantly, and after the Vvedensky Canal was dug in 1804, new boundaries of this territory appeared - the Vvedensky and Obvodny Canals.
History of the area
What else can you tell from the history of the area where Pionerskaya Square is now located? At the end of the war of 1812, the western territory of the Semyonovsky regiment was settled by petty officials, merchants and artisans. And in the eastern territories of the Semenovsky regiment, the University and the Noble boarding house were located, in which M. I. Glinka and I. S. Turgenev once studied. In 1836-1837, a passenger road was laid from the Semenovsky parade ground, which connected St. Petersburg and Tsarskoe Selo, and also led to the city of Pavlovsk. And at the beginning of the 19th century, the Congress House of the Moscow part was erected here, the construction of which was made in the style of classicism. Currently, you can see the partially preserved facade of the building. It is located on Zagorodny Avenue at number 37.
The ground covered in blood
The area where Pioneer Square is now located has been a place of political executions since the mid-19th century. So, in 1842, a whole group of revolutionary democrats, the so-called "Petrashevites", were brought here. F. M. Dostoevsky was also in it. The group knew that she was being brought to her death and was already prepared for this, but at the last moment the death pen alty was commuted to hard labor. The last execution took place in 1881year, when five people who were preparing an assassination attempt on Alexander II were hanged here.
Building up the parade ground
On the territory where Pionerskaya Square is now located, at the beginning of the 20th century, many new buildings appeared, including the profitable house of Countess M. A. Stenbock-Fermor, built in the Art Nouveau style, a large residential building of the Rossiya insurance”and the building of the male gymnasium, and now the school of G. K. Shtemberg, which was built in the neoclassical style. In the same period, a hippodrome was opened on the territory of the parade ground. In addition, a printing house was built between Semenovsky Square and Zvenigorodskaya Street, where books and albums were published, which were subsequently awarded high awards at international exhibitions. As a result, almost the entire Semenovsky parade ground was built up. During the Great Patriotic War, the hippodrome was destroyed. The wasteland stood until the early 50s, and then a park appeared here, covering an area of 11 hectares. In the same years, Marata Street was extended through the former parade ground, leading to Podezdny Lane. At the place of their intersection, a landscaped square appeared, which was later called Pionerskaya.
Modern Pioneer Square (St. Petersburg)
Reconstruction of the square was scheduled for 2006. According to the project, all concrete slabs were to be replaced here, and a unique fountain complex was built. However, at that time the funding did not materialize. In 2014, it is planned to carry out a major overhaul in the garden of the Theater for Young Spectators, which includes in its planreplacement of concrete slabs. Currently, rallies, fairs, celebrations of city holidays and much more are held on the square.
Fair
One of the annual large-scale events in St. Petersburg is the Christmas Fair on Pionerskaya Square, which until this year was held on Ostrovsky Square. In 2014, the eighth one took place. 15 countries and 10 regions of Russia took part in it. Among the guests of this event were Spain, Germany, Great Britain and the USA. The trading areas were overflowing with gifts, souvenirs, all kinds of treats, goods of folk craftsmen and craftsmen. In addition, this year the blacksmiths, together with representatives of the governing bodies, made horseshoes of good luck, the money from the sale of which is planned to be directed to charitable purposes. The fair was visited by more than 1000 orphans who left their wishes to Santa Claus. For pensioners, a separate entertainment program called "We are always young at heart" is provided.
It should be noted that the fair opens in December and closes on January 12th. On the eve of the New Year, you can also buy a Christmas tree, both natural and artificial.
Ice Rink
In 2014, the festive market was supplemented by a new entertainment arena - a skating rink on Pionerskaya Square, Father Frost's house, a sports area and a children's amusement area. The ice rink located in the open air attracts the greatest attention of visitors. It is made of aluminum base, so it can withstandany cold and temperature changes. For comfortable and safe skiing, the thickness of the ice and its surface are regularly checked.
Skate rental is open next to the skating rink. In winter 2014, children under 16 years of age can enter free of charge. The rink has instructors who are always ready to teach those who wish not only the basic elements of skating, but also complex figures. In addition, a master class from famous athletes is shown here for visitors, various entertainment programs and an ice show are held. In the evening, the skating rink is illuminated with dozens of colorful and bright lights, and specially selected pleasant music sounds from the speakers installed around the perimeter.
Metro
The easiest way to get to such a historical place as Pionerskaya Square is by subway. Near the square in 2008, the Zvenigorodskaya station was opened, which is part of the Frunzensko-Primorskaya line. It is located between the Obvodny Kanal and Sadovaya stations.
Initially, it was activated without direct access to the surface. For communication with the rest of the lines, a transition corridor was built connecting Pushkinskaya and Zvenigorodskaya stations. Its lobby was opened in 2009. It is built into a five-story shopping center, which is located directly above the subway. The ascent and descent is carried out by four escalators. The decoration of the station itself is dedicated to the Semyonovsky regiment, since its barrackswere located in the area where the exit to the surface is now located. The walls are lined with dark green marble and the floor is paved with green granite. Station "Zvenigorodskaya" is a transfer hub: it can go to the Kirov-Vyborg line.
The platform of the central hall is slightly raised. From it, above the tracks, a staircase leads to three short corridors, at the end of which there is a small hall. A tunnel goes from it to Pushkinskaya station.
